Creating to cure the blahs

Oy...I'm a posting fool today. :) I worked on the tags for my Secret Garden Tag Swap....since I am the hostess, it would be good to have some done. They aren't finished..as you can tell. But that paper got me to thinking and I decided to use some more of it. I bought all the paper and most of the fun stuff that was in that line with my Xmas gift cards. I figured I needed to use it. So I'm taking the paper and that Better Homes and Gardens Decorating book (I got three of those in Opelika, AL and haven't used them yet either) and making something. It has been a good distraction. I never just make anything.....I usually need a reason to create. So I'm kind of excited. I got my postcards from Moo yesterday. So those went out today. I wasn't sure about making postcards, so I ordered postcards of some of my favorite photos I've taken through the years. Some of the photos have been used on mini moo cards. I figured out a great quote and sat down and wrote them all out this morning. I mailed them after a quick jaunt to the Post Thrift Store. I usually don't get to go....Clark gets the car on the days they are open. He's gone, so I went. :) I've been a busy bee, but my "me" time is almost up. Thanks for all the suggestions for a SB replacement. :)

Easter Swap-Day Four

Kim is Day Four of this little swap. She made this little piece of happiness. This is so close to a snowglobe, I will have to hide it from wee one (he loves a snowglobe). www.craftytriathlete.blogspot.com

Easter Swap- Day Three

Amy (the hostess) was Day Three. She is a sewing fool...she made this little daffodil bag. She is very talented. It is pretty neat. www.craftingbycandlelight.blogspot.com

Easter Swap- Day 2

Wendy (who I was partner's with in Heidi's Vintage Tin Swap) was Day Two. She made this little egg to hang up...very sweet. www.weinkswonders.blogspot.com/

Easter Swap- Day 1

Amy had to pull some stuff out of a rabbit's bum to make up for a drop out....not bad. She made the bags herself....very cute. A paper mache egg to get all creative with and some shabby chic clothespins.

Easter Swap

Here is the stash we got for the swap.

Pity Party

My hubby left for TDY this weekend, I'm sick and Silver Bella was cancelled. I'm just bummed. I'm so sad about Silver Bella. It is the one thing I do for myself. I don't have the flexible schedule most ladies have...my husband's work takes precedence, I don't have family nearby to watch my children. I love being a vendor at Silver Bella....it is the only chance I get to do something like that. I do need to figure out what to do with the items I've been stockpiling for SB. I have over 70 jello molds/tins. I couldn't find them for awhile and then I found a bunch of them...argh. There are just some things that I can sell at SB that it just isn't feasible to do on Etsy. I just need a few more days to get over it. I have a bunch of fun things I got in my Easter Swap (I know because others have been posting about them)...I haven't opened any of mine. My postcards I ordered for the postcard swap are on their way here.....I need a good quote. I've got tags to finish and a little book to start on....one of the Bella's is hostessing a Bling Necklace Swap....I need to check my stash to see if I have enough vintage bling for that one. Her blog is www.backatyababe.blogspot.com if you are interested...she needs 23 ladies. Blah, blah, blah....I will get my head out of my ass...it will just take a few days. :)

Kandeland's 'Mail Love' Postcard Swap- Round Two

Natalea was kind enough to have another round of this swap. I couldn't think of what to do when she had the first round, so I sat it out. I know excatly what to do this time....well, except for which quotes I want to use. I actually have a notebook full of cool quotes....now only if I can find it in time. :) www.kandeland.typepad.com Head on over if you want to give it a try....sign ups only open until the 13th of April.

Nine Days of Easter Packaging

As you can see....I am Day 6 of 9. Those bags are tiny...they are 6 1/2" tall when not folded over. I found them at an estate sale in Columbus. I'm very happy to have finally found a use for them. They arrived at Amy's the other day, so I figured it was safe to show them...I was worried that I'd posta picture of them and then they would get lost in the mail. :)

Have You Seen This???

Michelle Geller is hosting a tiny book swap....so cool. I missed out on the one Julie Collings hosted last year, so hopefully Michelle will let me in this one. Michelle is such a sweetheart and I was lucky enough that she joined one of my Silver Bella swaps...so I have a little bit of her work. So if you might be interested....go here: www.michellegeller.typepad.com and check out what you need to do.

All Signed Up

Here is one of the few projects I finished last year at Silver Bella. Mine is on the left. Well, registration for Silver Bella 6 (www.paperbellastudio.com/pages/silverbella.htm) started last night. I'm all signed up. Here is what I'm taking: It's Ornamental ,Reverse Canvas, Forever Love Bracelet, Grace To Grow, and Creative Mise En Place. I hope to see you there. I have to download my photos of what I made for Amy's Easter Swap (http://www.craftingbycandlelight.blogspot.com/) ....actually, you'll just see how I packaged them. It is supposed to be a surprise....I think. :) They went out in the mail yesterday....I had a hard time with the last one and hope that is not the one I get back. With my luck it will be. :) Blogger sucks today. Argh.

Confession is good for the soul

I am the biggest chicken shit when it comes to driving...the anxiety and panic make me want to reach for some Zoloft. I finally drove off post today....silly, I know. I've driven elsewhere...Columbus, Birmingham....you would think that basically a straight line off post wouldn't worry me...you would be wrong. I've had the car for the last few days....hubby went TDY...normally, I'd be happy about that, but Autism Boy has lost his mind. He emptied half a bottle of baby powder in my bedroom. Oy. He did do cute stuff...he gets to go swimming today...he wore his swim trunks around the house yesterday while saying "swimmy, swimmy". He doesn't do shorts and after awhile he realized they were shorts and wanted jammies. :) I digress. I went to Walmart today. I'm in an Easter Swap and my initial plan for my craft has not worked out. I came up with a new plan, but I didn't have the right supplies. I was going to wait for hubby to get home, but thought better of it. I'm friggin 38 years old...I can go get my own shit...by myself. Wow....Walmart on a Thursday morning is pretty quiet...nice. I got to look around at whatever I wanted. I treated myself to two new cds....Sara Bareilles and Pink. I got what I needed and headed home (one place a trip...baby steps). I did stop at the Post Thrift Shop on the way home....it is inside the gate, so it doesn't count. :) I'm quite happy with myself. I've been going out and buying the paper everyday...not a horribly far walk, but I'm getting out of the house. It works out really well when I've had an Etsy sale....there is a paper machine in front of our post office. The major things on post are a five minute walk from the house....very convinent (when I don't have the car....today was the first day I used the car). :) The flower....our first poppy...I took it weeks ago, but am finally posting it. Oooh....poppies are pretty ugly before they bloom...hairy nasty things. Another confession....horribly unpatient...still waiting for Teresa to list classes for Silver Bella....I check fifty times a day...argh....she is killing me. :)

Registration is nearing....

for Year Six of Silver Bella.....so excited. I'm signed on as a sponsor again....I couldn't help myself. It is kind of fun to come up with goody bag stuff. I did that and donated goods for giveaways last year. I packaged trim and lace in leftover baked goods containers...too fun. How I'm going to top that is my main question. If you have a shop/business....Teresa can always use sponsors. It is a great way to get your name out there. She just put a few photos from last year on the Silver Bella blog (on my sidebar). Registration starts on April 1st....April Fool's Day..I wonder if that is wise?? I hope to see you there this year. :)

P.S. I would leave a lot more comments for my fellow bloggers on Blogspot, but my computer hates me and I haven't figured out how to fix it. Argh.

Good Shopkeeper, Bad Blogger

I've been taking care of my neglected little shop lately. I've been going through my six rubbermaid tubs of trims, lace, and lingerie lace. I put the ones listed in my shop in two smaller tubs (one trims/lace and one for lingerie lace) and re-marked them for easier finding. :) I filled two other small tubs with what I love and want to keep (again, one for trims/lace and one for lingerie lace) and then the two largest tubs are full of everything I want or need to get rid of at some point. I spent most of this morning, pulling stuff out of the two large tubs to measure and photograph to sell. Kind of a bulk sale...instead of offering them up by the yard. They will be at discounted prices. If you ever wanted to start designing your own clothes (mostly lingerie) here is a chance to get some fun stuff. Unfortunately, Spring Break will soon be upon me and it probably won't happen until after that. I got a lot of other stuff listed as well...loads of books, some supplies and other stuff. As I unearth it, I've been trying to be good and get it photographed and listed. I got to take a break this afternoon...I got to go see my little Billy ride a horse. His Special Needs class goes on outings every Thursday and they have been horseback riding for the last two months. It was the last one of the school year, so hubby and I went and took photos. It was so cool, but it threw him off. They get to go swimming after Spring Break...that will be one happy autistic boy. He loves water.
Oh, before I forget...I'm hostessing the Tag Swappers Tag Swap again...we take turns. The theme is "Secret Garden". If you'd like to join let me know. You need to make 20 tags and get them to me by NLT 1st of May. We've got seven slots left. We do take newbies...not everyone can do it everytime and fresh blood is always good. I need a nap, but I signed up for an Easter Swap and need to start working on that. I know I'm not getting anything done next week. :)

Petite Inspiration Boxes- Flea Market Edition

This is what I received from Nicole.







This is what I made for Nicole.

This is what I received from Anita.

This is what I made for Anita.

Nicole has a blog (www.gibbysgirl.com) , but Anita does not. I had some problems with this swap...mostly second guessing myself. I am happy with how they turned out. I love what I got in return. :)